Green Lanes is the centre of Turkish London. Starting around Manor House tube and stretching north towards Turnpike Lane, this mile of Grand Parade is lined with ocakbaşı restaurants, baklava shops, and bakeries that feel more like Istanbul than England.
On weekends, the street fills with Turkish families, the smell of charcoal drifts across the pavement, and finding parking requires commitment. This is the real thing— not Turkish food adapted for British tastes, but the food Turkish Londoners cook for themselves.
The Restaurants
Gökyüzü
The Institution | ££
The sprawling anchor of Green Lanes. Multiple dining rooms, a wood-fired oven producing fresh bread continuously, and a menu that runs to several pages. This is where Turkish families come for celebrations.
What to Order: Full Platter (sharing), lamb şiş, chicken beyti, breakfast (8am-4pm)
Pro Tip: Wood-fired bread is unlimited—ask for more.
Selale
The Refined Alternative | ££
Slightly more polished than its neighbours. The lamb ribs are exceptional, the meze is consistent, and the service is attentive without being rushed.
What to Order: Lamb ribs, adana kebab, hummus
Hala Restaurant
The Family Favourite | ££
Warm, welcoming, and consistently excellent. Hala specializes in the kind of Turkish home cooking that makes regulars out of first-time visitors. Their gözleme (stuffed flatbread) is hand-rolled and only available until 4pm.
What to Order: Mixed grill, gözleme (before 4pm), meze platter
Pro Tip: Free tea with gözleme order.
Antepliler
The Gaziantep Specialist | ££
Named after the southeastern Turkish city famous for its cuisine. The sogan kebab—minced lamb with pomegranate sauce and grilled shallots—is a signature you won't find elsewhere.
What to Order: Sogan kebab, İskender (next door), künefe (dessert cafe)
Pro Tip: This is a complex: restaurant, döner house, künefe cafe. Plan to visit all three.
The Bakeries
Yasar Halim
The baklava authority. Pistachios imported from Gaziantep. Proper Turkish delight.
Antepliler Künefe
Hot künefe made to order. Crispy kadayıf, stretchy cheese, sugar syrup, clotted cream.
Bebek Baklava
High-end baklava in sleek packaging. Good for gifts.
🚶 The Green Lanes Food Crawl
The optimal way to experience Green Lanes in 4 stops:
- 1Start at Hala or Selale — Lahmacun and a few meze to warm up
- 2Main event at Gökyüzü — Mixed grill, lamb ribs, the works
- 3Künefe at Antepliler — Hot, cheesy, essential
- 4Baklava from Yasar Halim — Take some home
Getting There
Tube: Manor House (Piccadilly line) puts you at the southern end. Turnpike Lane (Piccadilly line) is at the northern end. Both are about 10 minutes walk from the main restaurant stretch.
Bus: The W3 and W7 buses run the length of Green Lanes.
Driving: Possible on weekdays, challenging on weekends. Street parking is free after 6:30pm and on Sundays.